Authorities are searching for clues in the Amtrak crash that struck a vehicle, leaving two men and one woman dead early Monday morning in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Officials believe the SUV was on the tracks when the train, headed for New York’s Penn Station, struck the it. None of the 180 passengers aboard the train sustained injuries. The conductor was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. The derailed train and debris from the crash caused delays for commuters traveling to and from Boston on the Amtrak route Monday morning.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Transit Police confirmed the deaths of a man and the woman at the accident scene. Later, at a press conference, officials confirmed the death of the third passenger, whose body was found outside of the vehicle. Investigators stated they weren’t able to find the second male victim sooner, as a result of the large accident scene. Police are continuing to work on identifying the victims to inform their families.
Questions still surround the entry point of the vehicle onto the Amtrak track. Officials face “very physically demanding” conditions in the remote wooded area. The debris left from the crash is about a mile away from where the initial impact occurred, which presents many challenges and hazards for investigators.
Investigators said the Amtrak train may have been traveling at 125 MPH due to speed limits in the crash area. They believe the train conductor may have hit the train’s brakes, which may have played a role in the derailment. “Once the train stopped, you can see parts of the vehicle was [sic] stuck under the train and the front wheels of the train are off the tracks,” one witness said, according to WCVB.
The passengers were transported to Boston by another MTBA train. Officials are expected to continue their investigation at the site.